Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force

Bangladesh is dedicated and committed to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the peaceful settlement of international disputes and to the maintenance of global peace and security. The roadmap of Bangladesh for a deep engagement with global peace is firmly pronounced in the Constitution of the country. Analogous to this national commitment, Bangladesh Armed Forces have been taking part in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) around the globe for more than two decades. Footprints of Bangladeshi peacekeepers are now evident in almost all the troubled areas of the world, starting from Haiti to East Timor; from Lebanon to DR Congo. The peacekeepers of Bangladesh had been almost everywhere and are committed to remain so in the days to come. Today, Bangladeshi peacekeepers earned the credentials of a 'Role Model' in global peacekeeping due to their professionalism, commitment, impartiality, integrity and humane attitude.

Bangladesh stepped into the family of 'Blue-Helmet' through participation in UNIIMOG (Iraq-Iran) in 1988 with 15 Military Observers from Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force joined UNPKO in 1993 while Bangladesh Police joined in 1989. Till now Bangladesh has contributed in 51 missions, where 1,21,407 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have participated. At present with strength of 7,979 peacekeepers, Bangladesh is one of the highest peacekeepers contributing countries in the world.

Bangladeshi peacekeepers had been operating in many of the beleaguered areas of the world, under different trying situations, even against serious threats to their lives. On the way of global peace, 112 Bangladeshi brave sons laid down their lives. We all salute the supreme sacrifices made by these true sons of peace. These sacrifices might have shortened their lives, but in unison increased the commitment of Bangladesh towards world peace. Bangladesh resolutely reiterates her firm commitment to undertake any UN assignment for global peace and stability in future. Let there be light around the world, let all peacekeepers be enlightened.

Completed Missions of Bangladeshi Peacekeepers

Ser

Country

Name of the Mission

Total

1.

Afghanistan

UNAMA

9

2.

Afghanistan -Pakistan

UNSMA/UNGOMAP

2

3.

Angola

UNAVEM/UNAVEM III

635

4.

Bosnia

UNBIH

152

5.

Burundi

BINUB

6

6.

Cambodia

UNAMIC / UNTAC/UNMLT

1301

7.

Congo

MONUC, MONUSCO

17765

8.

East Slovenia

UNTAES

76

9.

East Timor

UNAMET / UNTAET / UNMISET

2718

10.

Ethiopia / Eritrea

UNMEE

1108

11.

Georgia

UNOMIG

131

12.

Haiti

UNMIH / MNF

3641

13.

Iraq

UNGCI

121

14.

Iran/Iraq

UNIIMOG

31

15.

Iraq

UNMOVIC

3

16.

Ivory Coast

MINUCI/ONUCI/UNOCI

25612

17.

Kosovo

UNMIK

539

18.

Kuwait

UNIKOM

8238

19.

Liberia

UNOMIL

22906

20.

Macedonia

UNPREDEP

7

21.

Mozambique

ONUMOZ

2622

22.

Namibia

UNTAG

85

23.

Rwanda

UNAMIR

1022

24.

Sierra Leone

UNAMSIL

11944

25.

Somalia

UNOSOM-I/ UNOSOM II/ AMISOM

1975

26.

Sudan

UNMIS

10334

27.

Tajikistan

UNMOT

40

28.

Uganda / Rwanda

UNOMUR

20

29.

Western Sahara

MINURSO

176

30.

Yugoslavia (Former)

UNPROFOR / UNMOP

1608

31.

Sierra Leone

UNIOSIL

37

32.

CAR & Chad

MINURCAT

53

33.

Sudan, Darfur

UNAMID

5496

34.

Lebanon

UNIFIL

973

35.

West Africa

UNOWA

2

36.

Nairobi

UNSOA

1

37.

Syria

UNSMIS

18

Total

1,21,407

Summary of Participation by Bangladeshi Peacekeepers

Ser

Services

Army

Navy

Air Force

Total

1.

Armed Forces

1,02,499

2,767

3,590

1,08,856

2.

Police

12,551

Grand Total

1,21,407

Details of Current Deployment of

Bangladeshi Peacekeepers in UN Missions/UN

Ser

Country

Name of Mission

Total

1.

Liberia

UNMIL

542

2.

Cote d, Ivory

UNOCI

2373

3.

South Sudan

UNMISS

303

4.

DR Congo

MONUSCO

2953

5.

Sudan (Darfur)

UNAMID

932

6.

Lebanon

UNIFIL

326

7.

Western Sahara

MINURSO

29

8.

Mali

MINUSMA

185

9.

Haiti

MNUSTAH

323

10.

Nepal

UNMIN

1

11.

Italy

UNLB

2

12.

USA

UNHQ

8

Total

7979

Summary of Current Deployment

Ser

Services

Army

Navy

Air Force

Total

1.

Armed Forces

5,232

405

506

6143

2.

Police

1836

Grand Total

7979

Supreme Sacrifices for World Peace

(From 1989 to August 2013)

Ser

Service/Organization

Total

1.

Bangladesh Army

91

2.

Bangladesh Navy

01

3.

Bangladesh Air Force

04

4.

Bangladesh Police

16

Total

112

Summary of Injured Peacekeepers

(From 1989 to August 2013)

Ser

Service/Organization

Total

1.

Bangladesh Army

139

2.

Bangladesh Navy

01

3.

Bangladesh Air Force

05

4.

Bangladesh Police

09

Total

154

Steps of Armed Forces

Bangladesh Army

Bangladesh is committed to keep international peace and stability. From Haiti to Combodia or Georgia to Namibia almost everywhere Bangladesh Army exhibited high quality performance.

The journey of Bangladeshi peacekeepers attiring the blue helmet began in 1988 by sending 15 observers to Iraq-Iran military observer mission (UNIIMOG). Since then, Army successfully participated in 29 missions with 74,045 members. At present 7,937 soldiers are serving in 11 different missions. Their professionalism, discipline and high degree locality are appreciated in international community.

To eradicate unemployment problem, Peacekeepers organized rehabilitation and welfare programs like rendering training on tailoring, computer, automobiles etc. The undertaken programs are highly appreciated by the local leaders.
The Bangladeshi military doctors are the only hope for the treatment of the war victims. They receive heart-felt aspiration from the host country for their excellent service towards the distressed people.

Bangladesh Army Un Peacekeepers in Liberia

Bangladeshi BTR-80 during UN-mission in Liberia

Action Taken by Peacekeepers

The Bangladeshi peace keepers perform the following jobs with pride and competence while serving in the UN missions:

a. Observe cease fire and to deter the opponent from the war again.
b. Provide safeguard to the surrendered warrior.
c. Sealing supply of arms from the neighboring countries.
d. Arrange security for the important personalities, relief convoy and various international organizations.
e. Maintain the disarmament programme.
f. Arrange accommodation to the homeless peoples.
g. Help to organize a fair and credible election.

Bangladesh Navy

BN personnel have been participating in UN mission since 1993 and have upheld the dignity and honour by their selfless service to the destitute. So far, 352 officers and 730 sailors have participated in various peacekeeping mission world wide like Iraq, Kuwait, Mozambique, Rwanda, Haiti, Western Sahara, Croatia, Georgia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Ivory coast, Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan and Darfur. At present, 66 officers and 161 sailors are engaged in peacekeeping mission in the various countries. This includes Force Riverine Contingent comprising of 06 high speed boats and 93 BN personnel deployed in Sudan (UNMIS) and a Riverine Contingent comprising of 02 boats along with 11 persons deployed in Ivory Coast (UNOCI). BN personnel are putting up their best in UN mission area to bring good name for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Navy (BN) at UNIFIL HQ, Naqoura South Lebanon

Bangladesh Navy (BN) at UNIFIL HQ, Naqoura South Lebanon

Bangladesh Air Force

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has extended their service across the perimeter of the country. BAF started participating in UN Peacekeeping mission since 21 January 1993 in UNPROFOR with 26 members. A total of 1850 BAF Peacekeepers have actively participated in Peacekeeping Operations. BAF deployed an independent helicopter contingent named BANAIR under UNIKOM in Kuwait in 1995. A similar unit of BAF deployed in BANAIR under UNMISET in East Timor in 2004. At present, a contingent of BAF is working in DR Congo with one Utility Aviation Unit comprising 5 x MI-17 helicopters and one Airfield Services Unit. So far, BAF has completed 20 UN missions alone and along with Bangladesh Army. A total of 281 BAF peacekeepers are working now under 8 UN Peacekeeping Missions. BAF
peacekeepers other than their primary duties, they are also doing many benevolent works wherever they are deployed.

In East Timor

In East Timor

In Congo

Bangladesh Police

Bangladesh Police has been participating in UN Peacekeeping Missions since 1989. To date, Bangladesh Police has contributed in 18 UN Missions and 4438 Police members successfully completed their mission. Today Bangladesh Police has the highest number of Police personnel serving in different UN Mission. 964 Police personnel are deployed in 7 different missions in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Darfur, Congo, Afghanistan and East Timor. Six Formed Police Units (FPU) of Bangladesh are now working in the continent of Africa and East Timor.

Bangladesh Female Police in Haiti

Bangladesh Female Police in Port-au-Prince

Bangladesh peacekeepers earned enormous honour by doing many social and welfare activities. As recognition the local people named one road as ‘Bangla Road’, School in the name of an army officer, community centre as ‘Bangladesh-Liberia Friendship Centre’. Peacekeepers being the Nobel Prize winner in 1988, Bangladesh peacekeepers has become part to as well as Bangladesh won the Nobel Prize for the first time.

The members of Bangladesh Armed Forces earned ample pride and honour in UN mission by their professional mentality, profound discipline work. Wherever they go, receive heart felt felicitation from society.

Sacrifice

We pay our tribute to our 91 lives who made supreme sacrifice to restore global peace. The UN offered '' Deg Hommershold'' medal to 62 lives died who sacrificed their lives between 2002-2007.

Conclusion

It's a great honour and dignity for our country to be able to made large contribution in --UN missions. Bangladeshi Peacekeepers could display outstanding performance in establishing peace and resolve conflicts. Bangladeshi Peacekeepers could earn the confidence of UN and remain ready to react on short notice. We salute the contribution made by our Peacekeepers and, remain hopeful to prosperous future of the 'Blue Helmet'